Anthony Ballantoni

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead:29 to Green Flag

During the off-season, Looking Ahead gives a snapshot of where drivers finished in 2012 and what’s ahead for them in 2013. We will look at drivers who scored at least 250 points in the Cup Series and those who earned at least 200 points in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.

With 29 days to go until the 2013 season-opening Daytona 500, here are some driver recaps followed by a tentative list of 2013 Sprint Cup Driver/Team lineups.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS):Tony Stewart finished ninth in the standings and earned 2311 points.2012: Drove his Stewart Haas Racing No. 14 Chevrolet. In the 36 races, he led 420 laps, scored one pole, three victories, 12 top five and 16 top 10 finishes. He had an average start of 18.3 and a 13.6 average finish. In addition, he drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona (finished eighth). Best NSCS start: 1 - Atlanta 09/02/12Best NSCS finishes: 1 - Las Vegas 03/11/12, Auto Club 03/25/12 and Daytona 07/07/12Last NSCS Win: Daytona 07/07/12.2013: Stewart returns in the No. 14 with sponsorship from Mobil 1 in 11 races. He secured Bass Pro Shops as primary sponsor on 18 races. Steve Addington will be back as crew chief for the team.

Kevin Harvick finished eighth in the standings and earned 2321 points.2012: Drove the No. 29 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. In the 36 starts, he led 256 laps, scored one victory, five top five and 14 top 10 finishes. He had an average start of 14.6 and a 12.1 average finish. In addition, he drove RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet in 13 NNS races. He scored one pole, two wins, had 10 top 10 finishes and earned a 7.5 average finish. Over in the Truck Series, Harvick started three races in RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado. Two starts were from the pole and one from second place. His 5.3 average finish included a win, a third and a 12th place.Best NSCS starts: 2 - Martinsville 04/01/12, Kansas 04/22/12 and Michigan 06/17/12Best NSCS finish: 1 - Phoenix 11/11/12Last NSCS Win: Phoenix 11/11/12.2013: It was confirmed that this will be Harvick’s last season with RCR (moves to Stewart Haas Racing in 2014). This year the team stays intact with sponsors Budweiser, Rheem and Jimmy Johns. Gil Martin returns as crew chief on the No. 29 as well.

Matt Kenseth finished seventh in the standings and earned 2324 points.2012: Drove the No. 17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. In the 36 starts, he led 480 laps, scored one pole, three victories, 13 top five and 19 top 10 finishes. He had an average start of 13.3 and an 11.1 average finish.Best NSCS start: 1 - Daytona 07/07/12Best NSCS finishes: 1 - Daytona 02/27/12, Talladega 10/07/12 and Kansas 10/21/12Last NSCS Win: Kansas 10/21/12.2013: Kenseth moved to Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2012. He will pilot the No. 20 Toyota (replacing Joey Logano who moved to Penske Racing). Home Depot and Dollar General will sponsor the team. Jason Ratcliff will remain as crew chief. Kenseth will also ride-share JGR’s No. 18 Toyota in some Nationwide Series races.

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS):Brian Scott finished ninth in the standings and earned 853 points.2012: Drove the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. In the 33 races, he led 11 laps, had two top five and 11 top 10 finishes, an average start of 11.4 and an 18.2 average finish. Scott also drove Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota Tundra in five NCWTS races. He carried a 9.2 average finish which included a win at Phoenix.Best NNS starts: 3 - Bristol 08/24/12 and Kansas 10/20/12Best NNS finish: 3 - Dover 06/02/12Last NNS Win: None so far.2013: Richard Childress Racing signed Scott for multiple years to drive their No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet. Phil Gould will act as crew chief.

Mike Bliss finished eighth in the standings and earned 902 points.2012: Drove TriStar Motorsports’ Nos. 44 (mainly), 10 and 19 Toyotas. In the 33 races, he led 12 laps, had one top 10 finish, an average start of 15.8 and a 16.8 average finish. Bliss also made one Sprint Cup start in FAS Lane Racing’s No. 32 Ford (finished 24th). He also qualified for 18 Cup races in Humphrey Smith Racing’s No. 19 Toyota (all start-and-park entries).Best NNS start: 7 - Chicago 07/22/12Best NNS finish: 8 - Daytona 07/06/12Last NNS Win: Charlotte 05/23/09.2013: No firm plans at this time but it appears he will return for another season with TriStar Motorsports in their No. 19 Toyota. Hal Martin has been hired to drive the No. 44.

Cole Whitt finished seventh in the standings and earned 994 points.2012: Drove JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet. In the 33 races, he led 22 laps, had four top five and 14 top 10 finishes, an average start of 13.3 and a 14.0 average finish. He also made five start-and-park Sprint Cup entries; three in Turn One Racing’s No. 74 and two in Joe Falk Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolets. He piloted Hillman Racing’s No. 27 Chevrolet Silverado truck in one race at Talladega and and earned a 13th place finish.Best NNS starts: 2 - Michigan 06/16/12 and Daytona 07/06/12Best NNS finishes: 4 - Talladega 05/05/12, Daytona 02/25/12 and Michigan 06/16/12Last NNS Win: None so far.2013: Whitt will not return to JRM’s No. 88. No firm plans at this time.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS):Johnny Sauter finished ninth in the standings and earned 678 points.2012: Drove ThorSport Racing’s No. 13 Toyota Tundra in 22 races. He led 11 laps, scored two wins, six top five and nine top 10 finishes and had an average start of 11.0 and a 13.8 average finish. Sauter also made one Sprint Cup start-and-park entry in NEMCO Motorsports No. 97 Toyota.Best NCWTS start: 2 - Kentucky 09/21/12Best NCWTS finishes: 1 - Texas 11/02/12 and Texas 06/08/12Last NCWTS Win: Texas 11/02/12.2013: Sauter will return with Curb Records sponsoring the No. 13 Toyota. Joe Shear Jr. will also be back as crew chief.

Justin Lofton finished eighth in the standings and earned 710 points.2012: Drove Eddie Sharp Racing’s No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado in 22 races. He led 183 laps, scored one pole, one win, four top five and 13 top 10 finishes and had an average start of 13.5 and a 12.3 average finish.Best NCWTS starts: 1 - Texas 06/08/12 and Chicago 07/21/12Best NCWTS finish: 1 - Charlotte 05/18/12Last NCWTS Win: Charlotte 05/18/12.2013: Lofton will return to ESR’s No. 6 Chevrolet with Lofton Cattle as sponsor but will not run a full season. He is also attempting to go for the championship in Robby Gordon’s newly formed Stadium Super Truck Series.

Nelson Piquet, Jr. finished seventh in the standings and earned 747 points.2012: Drove Turner Motorsports’ No. 30 Chevrolet Silverado in 22 races. He led 317 laps, scored four poles, two wins, nine top five and 15 top 10 finishes and had an average start of 6.6 and a 10.8 average finish. Piquet entered two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races in 2012; won at Bristol from the pole and finished 17th at Richmond. Turner put him in their No. 30 Chevrolet in two NNS races; he won the Elkhart Lake road race from the pole and finished 21st at Bristol.Best NCWTS starts: 1 - Rockingham 04/15/12, Pocono 08/04/12, Texas 11/02/12 and Phoenix 11/09/12Best NCWTS finishes: 1 - Michigan 08/18/12 and Las Vegas 09/29/12Last NCWTS Win: Las Vegas 09/29/12.2013: Piquet will not return to the No. 30 truck but will move up to the Nationwide Series. It is not firm but it looks like he will be in Turner Scott Motorsports No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro.

During the off-season, Looking Ahead gives a snapshot of where drivers finished in 2012 and what’s ahead for them in 2013. We will look at drivers who scored at least 250 points in the Cup Series and those who earned at least 200 points in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.

With 29 days to go until the 2013 season-opening Daytona 500, here are some driver recaps followed by a tentative list of 2013 Sprint Cup Driver/Team lineups.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS):Tony Stewart finished ninth in the standings and earned 2311 points.2012: Drove his Stewart Haas Racing No. 14 Chevrolet. In the 36 races, he led 420 laps, scored one pole, three victories, 12 top five and 16 top 10 finishes. He had an average start of 18.3 and a 13.6 average finish. In addition, he drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona (finished eighth). Best NSCS start: 1 - Atlanta 09/02/12Best NSCS finishes: 1 - Las Vegas 03/11/12, Auto Club 03/25/12 and Daytona 07/07/12Last NSCS Win: Daytona 07/07/12.2013: Stewart returns in the No. 14 with sponsorship from Mobil 1 in 11 races. He secured Bass Pro Shops as primary sponsor on 18 races. Steve Addington will be back as crew chief for the team.

Kevin Harvick finished eighth in the standings and earned 2321 points.2012: Drove the No. 29 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. In the 36 starts, he led 256 laps, scored one victory, five top five and 14 top 10 finishes. He had an average start of 14.6 and a 12.1 average finish. In addition, he drove RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet in 13 NNS races. He scored one pole, two wins, had 10 top 10 finishes and earned a 7.5 average finish. Over in the Truck Series, Harvick started three races in RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado. Two starts were from the pole and one from second place. His 5.3 average finish included a win, a third and a 12th place.Best NSCS starts: 2 - Martinsville 04/01/12, Kansas 04/22/12 and Michigan 06/17/12Best NSCS finish: 1 - Phoenix 11/11/12Last NSCS Win: Phoenix 11/11/12.2013: It was confirmed that this will be Harvick’s last season with RCR (moves to Stewart Haas Racing in 2014). This year the team stays intact with sponsors Budweiser, Rheem and Jimmy Johns. Gil Martin returns as crew chief on the No. 29 as well.

Matt Kenseth finished seventh in the standings and earned 2324 points.2012: Drove the No. 17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. In the 36 starts, he led 480 laps, scored one pole, three victories, 13 top five and 19 top 10 finishes. He had an average start of 13.3 and an 11.1 average finish.Best NSCS start: 1 - Daytona 07/07/12Best NSCS finishes: 1 - Daytona 02/27/12, Talladega 10/07/12 and Kansas 10/21/12Last NSCS Win: Kansas 10/21/12.2013: Kenseth moved to Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2012. He will pilot the No. 20 Toyota (replacing Joey Logano who moved to Penske Racing). Home Depot and Dollar General will sponsor the team. Jason Ratcliff will remain as crew chief. Kenseth will also ride-share JGR’s No. 18 Toyota in some Nationwide Series races.

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS):Brian Scott finished ninth in the standings and earned 853 points.2012: Drove the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. In the 33 races, he led 11 laps, had two top five and 11 top 10 finishes, an average start of 11.4 and an 18.2 average finish. Scott also drove Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota Tundra in five NCWTS races. He carried a 9.2 average finish which included a win at Phoenix.Best NNS starts: 3 - Bristol 08/24/12 and Kansas 10/20/12Best NNS finish: 3 - Dover 06/02/12Last NNS Win: None so far.2013: Richard Childress Racing signed Scott for multiple years to drive their No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet. Phil Gould will act as crew chief.

Mike Bliss finished eighth in the standings and earned 902 points.2012: Drove TriStar Motorsports’ Nos. 44 (mainly), 10 and 19 Toyotas. In the 33 races, he led 12 laps, had one top 10 finish, an average start of 15.8 and a 16.8 average finish. Bliss also made one Sprint Cup start in FAS Lane Racing’s No. 32 Ford (finished 24th). He also qualified for 18 Cup races in Humphrey Smith Racing’s No. 19 Toyota (all start-and-park entries).Best NNS start: 7 - Chicago 07/22/12Best NNS finish: 8 - Daytona 07/06/12Last NNS Win: Charlotte 05/23/09.2013: No firm plans at this time but it appears he will return for another season with TriStar Motorsports in their No. 19 Toyota. Hal Martin has been hired to drive the No. 44.

Cole Whitt finished seventh in the standings and earned 994 points.2012: Drove JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet. In the 33 races, he led 22 laps, had four top five and 14 top 10 finishes, an average start of 13.3 and a 14.0 average finish. He also made five start-and-park Sprint Cup entries; three in Turn One Racing’s No. 74 and two in Joe Falk Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolets. He piloted Hillman Racing’s No. 27 Chevrolet Silverado truck in one race at Talladega and and earned a 13th place finish.Best NNS starts: 2 - Michigan 06/16/12 and Daytona 07/06/12Best NNS finishes: 4 - Talladega 05/05/12, Daytona 02/25/12 and Michigan 06/16/12Last NNS Win: None so far.2013: Whitt will not return to JRM’s No. 88. No firm plans at this time.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS):Johnny Sauter finished ninth in the standings and earned 678 points.2012: Drove ThorSport Racing’s No. 13 Toyota Tundra in 22 races. He led 11 laps, scored two wins, six top five and nine top 10 finishes and had an average start of 11.0 and a 13.8 average finish. Sauter also made one Sprint Cup start-and-park entry in NEMCO Motorsports No. 97 Toyota.Best NCWTS start: 2 - Kentucky 09/21/12Best NCWTS finishes: 1 - Texas 11/02/12 and Texas 06/08/12Last NCWTS Win: Texas 11/02/12.2013: Sauter will return with Curb Records sponsoring the No. 13 Toyota. Joe Shear Jr. will also be back as crew chief.

Justin Lofton finished eighth in the standings and earned 710 points.2012: Drove Eddie Sharp Racing’s No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado in 22 races. He led 183 laps, scored one pole, one win, four top five and 13 top 10 finishes and had an average start of 13.5 and a 12.3 average finish.Best NCWTS starts: 1 - Texas 06/08/12 and Chicago 07/21/12Best NCWTS finish: 1 - Charlotte 05/18/12Last NCWTS Win: Charlotte 05/18/12.2013: Lofton will return to ESR’s No. 6 Chevrolet with Lofton Cattle as sponsor but will not run a full season. He is also attempting to go for the championship in Robby Gordon’s newly formed Stadium Super Truck Series.

Nelson Piquet, Jr. finished seventh in the standings and earned 747 points.2012: Drove Turner Motorsports’ No. 30 Chevrolet Silverado in 22 races. He led 317 laps, scored four poles, two wins, nine top five and 15 top 10 finishes and had an average start of 6.6 and a 10.8 average finish. Piquet entered two NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races in 2012; won at Bristol from the pole and finished 17th at Richmond. Turner put him in their No. 30 Chevrolet in two NNS races; he won the Elkhart Lake road race from the pole and finished 21st at Bristol.Best NCWTS starts: 1 - Rockingham 04/15/12, Pocono 08/04/12, Texas 11/02/12 and Phoenix 11/09/12Best NCWTS finishes: 1 - Michigan 08/18/12 and Las Vegas 09/29/12Last NCWTS Win: Las Vegas 09/29/12.2013: Piquet will not return to the No. 30 truck but will move up to the Nationwide Series. It is not firm but it looks like he will be in Turner Scott Motorsports No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro.